Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD, by MATTHEW PRIOR



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Once on a time, in sunshine weather
Last Line: Beloved by all who truth revere.
Subject(s): Fables; Nudity; Nymphs; Truth; Allegories; Nakedness


ONCE on a time, in sunshine weather,
Falsehood and Truth walked out together,
The neighbouring woods and lawns to view,
As opposites will sometimes do.
Through many a blooming mead they past,
And at a brook arrived at last.
The purling stream, the margin green,
With flowers bedecked, a vernal scene,
Invited each itinerant maid,
To rest a while beneath the shade.
Under a spreading beech they sat,
And passed the time with female chat;
Whilst each her character maintained;
One spoke her thoughts, the other feigned.
At length, quoth Falsehood, sister Truth,
(For so she called her from her youth)
What if, to shun yon sultry beam,
We bathe in this delightful stream;
The bottom smooth, the water clear,
And there's no prying shepherd near! --
With all my heart, the nymph replied,
And threw her snowy robes aside,
Stripped herself naked to the skin,
And with a spring leaped headlong in.
Falsehood more leisurely undressed,
And, laying by her tawdry vest,
Tricked herself out in Truth's array,
And 'cross the meadows tripped away.
From this cursed hour, the fraudful dame,
Of sacred Truth usurps the name,
And, with a vile, perfidious mind,
Roams far and near, to cheat mankind;
False sighs suborns, and artful tears,
And starts with vain pretended fears;
In visits, still appears most wise,
And rolls at church her saint-like eyes;
Talks very much, plays idle tricks,
While rising stock her conscience pricks;
When being, poor thing, extremely gravelled,
She secrets oped, and all unravelled.
But on she will, and secrets tell
Of John and Joan, and Ned and Nell,
Reviling every one she knows,
As fancy leads, beneath the rose.
Her tongue, so voluble and kind,
It always runs before her mind;
As times do serve, she slily pleads,
And copious tears still show her needs.
With promises as thick as weeds;
Speaks pro and con, is wondrous civil,
To-day a saint, to-morrow devil.
Poor Truth she stripped, as has been said,
And naked left the lovely maid,
Who, scorning from her cause to wince,
Has gone stark-naked ever since;
And ever naked will appear,
Beloved by all who Truth revere.





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